Trade Rumblings: Pirates, Hechavarria, Gyorko, Harvey

Since the Pirates plan to contend in 2018, they could pursue a “soft sell” at the deadline rather than unload major pieces, Fangraphs’ Travis Sawchik writes. This would mean keeping big names like Andrew McCutchen or Gerrit Cole unless they receive offers too good to ignore, while perhaps being open to moving the likes of Josh Harrison, David Freese, Juan Nicasio or other bullpen arms. As Sawchik points out, the Bucs already used this kind of “soft sell” to great effect last summer, when they dealt Mark Melancon to the Nationals and unloaded Francisco Liriano’s contract on the Blue Jays. Pittsburgh received a good young relief arm in Felipe Rivero for Melancon, and the money saved by moving Liriano allowed the Pirates to re-sign Freese and Ivan Nova, who has become a rotation staple. (Nova himself was a deadline pickup last year, a sign that the Pirates weren’t merely focused on selling.)

Here’s some more player movement buzz from around the majors…

The Orioles are reportedly out of the running for Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, and ESPN’s Buster Olney (subscription required) writes that a lack of payroll flexibility may have scuttled Baltimore’s chances. From the Marlins’ standpoint, the O’s wanted to move a comparably salary in a trade to fit Hechavarria’s remaining salary (around $2.17MM for the year) into the budget. It isn’t clear whether the O’s are lacking in flexibility altogether, or simply weren’t willing to stretch payroll for Hechavarria, who is a quality defender but has delivered virtual replacement-level value in three of the last four seasons.

Also from Olney’s column, he opines that Jedd Gyorko could be a big trade chip for the Cardinals if St. Louis decides to sell at the deadline. Gyorko could be of particular interest to prospect-laden contenders like the Red Sox or Yankees, who are both in the market for third base help. Gyorko is hitting .291/.350/.500 in 254 PA and is locked up on a very affordable contract through 2019, though as Olney notes, these could also be reasons for the Cards to want to keep Gyorko in the fold. In my opinion, I would guess that St. Louis would explore moving several other players before considering a Gyorko trade, and even then wouldn’t move him for anything less than a massive return.

Olney looks at the Mets’ situation heading into the deadline, as the team is open to moving veterans with an eye to creating payroll and roster space to reload for another run at contention next year. Another big-picture question is what the Mets will do with Matt Harvey, as the former ace has continued to struggle with injuries, performance, and off-the-field controversy. It seems like Harvey won’t be in a Mets uniform once his contract is up after the 2018 season, so Olney feels New York could try to move him in a trade or perhaps even non-tender Harvey after the year.

Comments

I’d almost consider Gyrko untouchable at this point. There are others that could be addition by subtraction. Like Rosenthal, Oh, Wacha, Lynn and Grichuk. Although none of them will bring back substantial returns.

I don’t get people considering Gyorko untouchable. Remember everyone thought he was on his way out of the league a couple of years ago? Sell high on the guy, he could easily fall back into a multi-year slump.

Who thought he was on the way out? You must talk to a different group than I do. He put up fairly good numbers in San Diego. And that’s a pitcher’s park. Going to a more fair park everyone I heard said he’d do much better. Not as well as he is but no one thought he was almost gone.

I highly doubt that. He would bring back something, nothing of significance, but something and maybe a bit of his salary off the books. Just because of his history there will be more than a few teams out there to give him a shot at the expense of a scrub and a mil or so. Plus, with the Mets out of contention, and all the injuries, I doubt they’re in a rush to just drop him as they need warm, or even lukewarm bodies.

Yup. He is the definition of a change of scenery guy. Plus, the Mets gave him the keys to the city really early, and I think the mixture of pressure and arrogance messed him up. He will likely never be an ace again, but if he goes to a team who can work out his issues, lesson the pressure, and put him in his place, then I can see him being an asset to a major league squad. The Mets as an organization just seem like a horribly dysfunctional system. And, this is not exactly new. I’ve got to think its ownership at this point, but I’m not incredibly informed on that situation.

I was hoping they would trade him last off season coming off a great year and the big World Series performance. But they didn’t. Now his value is so low I want them to keep him in hopes of gaining value for a deadline type trade next year.

Plus in 2015 the Mets completely disregarded the diagnosis of his surgeon and blew was by the hard innings limit that was recommended. This target was to protect him for his future, having come off surgery.
Then add to that his post season performance and mileage and it should be very easy to understand. Ace Cracker Jack “TC” was happy to keep letting him pitch. He has contributed to the demise of many of their “Dream” pitching staff.

Scott Boras should create a controversy over this blatant incompetence on the team’s part.

There are no excuses for his behavior. Yet anyone can have a modicum of sensitivity to the pain this has caused him. After all it might be a $100 million contract that will never be realized.

So Mets midgets that criticize me for posting, are you willing to man up at say that your team is being run irresponsibly? Others can share with similar mishaps if you can’t see the truth with light shining on it.

Reading through the piece and wondering how are those things really happening and then I noticed that the original article was by Olney. Then I realized how so many unrealistic things were being presented as probabilities. Olney is a hack.

If the Pirates are planning on contending in 2018, then why trade off Josh Harrison? He’s versatile enough that the Pirates have the option to use a position player in one place and Josh would fill in the other position that is open. I do see the Pirates unloading Andrew McCutchen just on the basis of his large contract. The Pirates ran the organization on a shoestring for years until it fell together. Its a formula that worked out.

Harvey’s woes the product of being a Boras client. If you want your team to win on an ongoing basis, stay away from any client related to Boras, as ‘me first’ is the motto that arrives in the clubhouse following what turns out to be an overinflated contract signing.

Any team signing Harper should only invest 1-year. Otherwise, will end up with a Tulo contract for an average shortstop with no community presence.

Cutch has done his part by getting hot, the Pirates should be able to get a good return for him. But, the other 3 guys haven’t done their parts.

Trading Cutch is a no brainer when you have a stud like Marte. But, what if he comes back a useless toothpick without PED’s?

Trading Cutch is a no brainer when you have a guy becoming a star like Polanco. But, he’s plateaued or even regressed. Which is concerning and confusing because he was a star in the WBC just a few months ago.

Trading Cutch is a no brainer when you have a prospect like Meadows coming. His struggles are predictible, that’s why the Pirates used to insist their guys get 500 AAA plate appearances to work through the adjustment periods. But he can’t stay healthy, which means two years to get to those 500 or rushing him instead.

But none of those issues is likely to resolve itself before they make the decision to trade him or not. Don’t envy Huntingdon right now.